Undercover sting shows schoolgirl, 14, allowed to flout the law and use sunbeds in HALF of tanning salons

A schoolgirl of 14 was allowed to flout the law and use sunbeds in almost half of tanning salons secretly surveyed by consumer watchdogs.

The shock discovery was made during an undercover sting operation carried out in West Yorkshire to investigate whether tanning salons are observing age restrictions barring under-18s from using sunbeds.

Health chiefs say the increasing numbers of young people using sunbeds on a regular basis is extremely worrying as skin damage and skin cancer are both linked to over exposure to UV radiation.

Sting: A 14-year-old girl was allowed access to sunbeds in more than half the salons she tried in West Yorkshire, despite it being illegal (posed by model)

Since April this year, it has been
against the law for businesses to offer sun beds to under-18s due to
concerns over links between UV rays and skin cancer.

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Out of the 25 salons visited by the schoolgirl 11 businesses let her into use their sunbeds.

Most
of the salons who allowed the girl to use the sunbed knew her date of
birth as a form was filled out.

However, the form was not checked and the test purchaser was offered use of a sun bed illegally.

Role models: In reality show The Only Way Is Essex the stars are often seen using sunbeds

Few
salons asked for proof of age while one was an unmanned business,
relying on CCTV cameras covering the sun bed area to vet customers,
which were not being watched when the test purchaser visited

But an increase in the number of
young girls wanting to be brown, emulating celebrities such as Katie
Price and The Only Way Is Essex cast is worrying health chiefs who are
trying to work harder to police salons.

Trading Standards introduced a maximum fine of £20,000 to any salon owner caught breaking the rules.

The overall sales rate of 44 per cent compares unfavourably with other
age-restricted items such as tobacco and alcohol where around 15 per
cent of retailers sell to children, West Yorkshire Trading Standards
said.

Tan un-fantastic: Health chiefs say celebrities like Katie Price (left) and TOWIE reality stars including Lauren Goodger can give young people the wrong impression over sunbed use

SUNBEDS: The dangers

Using sunbeds for the first time before the age of 35 increases the risk of developing melanoma skin cancer by 75 per cent.

Sunbeds are not a 'safe' alternative to sun tanning.

The main cause of skin cancer is overexposure to ultraviolet (UV) radiation.

Like the sun, sunbeds give off UVA and UVB rays. While sunburn is mostly caused by UVB, both types of UV can cause DNA damage, which can lead to skin cancer.

Modern sunbeds emit mostly UVA rays, but UVB rays can make up anywhere from 0.5-4 per cent of their total output.

These emissions can be comparable to the midday sun. And the amount of UVA given off can be 10-15 times higher than the midday sun.

Source: Cancer Research UK

Wakefield came off the worst, with four out of the five businesses tested letting the 14-year-old use the sun beds.

And two tanning salons out of five allowed the girl to use sunbeds in the neighbouring districts of Leeds, Bradford and Kirklees.

Louise Marshall, of the Health Protection Agency, said: 'The relatively high positive test purchase rate achieved in relation to sunbeds is of concern.

'As part of the intervention it is now hoped that sunbed studio operators will have a greater understanding of their responsibilities under the legislation.'

Andrew Furber, Director of Public Health for Wakefield said: 'The increasing numbers of young people using sun beds on a regular basis is extremely worrying.

'Skin damage and skin cancer are both linked to over exposure to UV radiation through sun beds, so regular use is putting people at risk. Stricter processes need to be in place to make sure people using sun beds are over 18 and able to make an informed choice.'

West Yorkshire Trading Standards advised businesses to ask for photographic identification for those who look under 21.

CASE STUDY: 'I don't want to see any child again going through what my daughter has been through'

Last year a judge called for action
to stop the 'reckless' use of the tanning machines after a 14-year-old
girl suffered severe burns after using a sunbed.

Schoolgirl Kirsty McRae suffered 70
per cent burns after using the unmanned Lextan salon in February last
year to get a quick tan.

Schoolgirl Kirsty Rae pictured before she
used a sunbed in James Hadley's unmanned tanning salon which gave her
severe burns, he was later prosecuted